Chain hooks

[Rowdius]

Well, this was supposed to be a thread showing me loading old electric poles to bring home for fence building, but between a blowout on a trailer and putting a new receiver hitch on the truck I ran out of time today.

However, I did manage to finally weld the chain hooks on today. These will do until I get my other bucket (which will be sometime before I wear the tractor out I hope.)
They are only good for 5400lbs, but then the loader itself is only good for about 1300, so I will be okay I think. I had the hooks laying in the shop collecting dust, didn't see in sense in buying more.

 

[contdevelop]

Nice welds!! Welding hooks on the bucket is very handy, I dont know why the bucket doesnt come with them from the factory. I have read alot of comments about people saying they are reinforcing their buckets, but as you pointed out the lift capacity of the loader is limited. I have not reinforced my bucket and have yet to have any troubles. I have even tried lifting to the point where the rear end comes off the ground. Anyways, to make a long story short, NICE job on the hooks!!!!!!!!

 

[Rowdius]

Nice welds!! Welding hooks on the bucket is very handy, I dont know why the bucket doesnt come with them from the factory. I have read alot of comments about people saying they are reinforcing their buckets, but as you pointed out the lift capacity of the loader is limited. I have not reinforced my bucket and have yet to have any troubles. I have even tried lifting to the point where the rear end comes off the ground. Anyways, to make a long story short, NICE job on the hooks!!!!!!!!

Thanks. I had to borrow my brother's Snap-On wire welder to do it. One of these days I'm going to get a real welder, but that day is quite a ways away I think.

 

[Cyberroc]

I have not reinforced my bucket and have yet to have any troubles.

I have mine reinforced, after seeing a couple of buckets ruined by not doing so was enough to have mine done. I am also planning on a top bar for forks later on, so I would have needed it either way.

I have also noticed that my reinforcements seem to keep loads more stable during transport. I was moving a few yards of peastone from point A to B and even when driving over a rut they all stayed in the bucket as it seemed to shift less.

Congrats on the Hooks!!

 

[randot]

On my CK 30 I had the hooks too far in from the edge without reinforcement and it bend the bucket some when chaining the tractor to the trailer. The dealer welded the hooks on my DK40 in the same place you have them, much stronger on the edge and no flexing.

 

[Rowdius]

I wouldn't mind doing a little more reinforcement on the bucket, but I didn't have the metal on hand at the time, and I needed (or so I thought before the other stuff happened) to get out to the electric company's yard before everyone went home for the day.

I going to be welding on the tabs that will hold my forks and brush rake sometime in the next month or so (still need to build both the forks and the rake though) and I'll probably beef the bucket up then.

 

[Steverino]

Ruby Goldberg Bucket modification!

Supplies:
2 x 6 receiver tube - tractor supply - $10.00 ea.
3/16 x 3 x 1/38 - 6ft. channel steel - metal yard - $20.00
2 receiver tow hook Harbor Freight - $8.00 ea.
3/8 weld-on chain hooks awdirect - $5.00 ea.
Ability to create and plug in a variety of helpful gadgets PRICELESS!

Tools:
Lincoln 135 flux-core
Hobart Stickmate Welder AC/DC
7018 Rod

Process:
1. I first ground off all the paint from the top of the bucket where I planned on welding. What a PIA. The paint just wanted to melt and gum-up the grinder.
2. Ditto for the receiver tubes.
3. Cut steel channel using a chop saw and dry fit all components.
4. Tacked receiver tubes into place on bucket with Lincoln flux-core.
5. Capped receiver tack weld with Hobart & 7018 rod.
6. Ground relief in channel to fit over existing welds on tube.
7. Tack welded channels to bucket with Lincoln flux-core.
8. Stitched with 7018 about every 4?
9. Filled in between stitches with Lincoln flux-core
10. Tacked on 3/8 chain hooks with Lincoln flux-core & caped with 7018 rod.
11. Sprayed with automotive body primer, hey it痴 a working machine.

Strength? Well I had a couple of boulders to move so I lassoed them with a slip chain and tried to pick them up. I was able to barely pick up one of them up but not the other one I could not so I dragged it. The buck and hooks held up without detectable deflection though the loader arms were quite twisted on the one I was able to pick up even though it was pretty much centrally located to the buck the rock was not of uniform shape so it shifted the center of gravity. I considered this a maximum load test for me and my machine. I can never imagine using it to a greater capacity. I could imagine any form of serious jarring could bend or break something but I would consider that abusing the equipment so there are no guarantees there. I do have a variety of gadgets on the to-do list so as I create them I will post them.

 

[Rowdius]

That looks really good! When I get my next bucket, I'll probably do something like that. In fact, I may go aheand and build my rake to fit that design.

 

[MotorSeven]

Nice Steve!

 

[Steverino]

Thanks for the compliments!